How they did it: Tampa Bay Times reporters expose high airborne lead levels at Florida recycling factory
Their 18-month investigation also reveals why regulators failed to correct the problem and its impact on workers and the surrounding community.
How they did it: Reporting tips from the 2022 Goldsmith investigative journalism prize finalists
Annually, the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy awards the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting to a stellar investigative report that has had a direct impact on government, politics and policy at the national, state or local levels. Six reporting teams were chosen as finalists for the 2022 prize, which carries a $10,000 award for finalists and $25,000 for the winner. The Journalist’s Resource is interviewing the finalists and offering a behind-the-scenes look at the processes, tools and legwork it takes to create an important piece of investigative journalism. The Journalist’s Resource is a project of the Shorenstein Center, but was not involved in judging the Goldsmith Prize. The winner of the $25,000 prize was announced on April 5.
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How they did it: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters show how low-income Black renters in the city face disproportionate electrical fire dangers
How an investigative team exposed electrical fire risks in a predominately Black and lower income area of Milwaukee. Plus, 5 tips for journalists.
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How they did it: Washington Post reporters reveal FEMA failures, denial of disaster aid to Black families in the South
Two reporters explain how they overcame major barriers investigating FEMA and share tips on interviewing hesitant sources, building data journalism skills and more.
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How they did it: Nashville Public Radio and ProPublica reveal a juvenile justice system in Tennessee that illegally jailed kids
Reporters Meribah Knight and Ken Armstrong explain how they pulled back the veil on the juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, Tennessee, where children were jailed in a staggering 48% of cases, nearly tenfold the state average. Plus, 7 tips for journalists.
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How they did it: Wichita Eagle reporters expose a broken EMS system
Reporters Chance Swaim and Michael Stavola talk about how they did the investigative stories, what challenges they faced, how they used academic research to vet the false claims of a powerful public figure and what advice they have for journalists.
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How they did it: ProPublica reporters expose hot spots of toxic air pollution across the US
In an interview, ProPublica reporter Lylla Younes talks about how she and her colleagues created a map of toxic air pollution hot spots using EPA data, how the team found human stories and advice she has for journalists.
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